Market
Information
The flexible guide posts (FGP) are
used at dangerous traffic areas where drivers attention are required
to ensure safety driving. The FGP are usually made from rubber to
lessen the impact of crash and it is found to be effective to diminish
the traffic collision despite with the small cost. The product can
be used at highway centreline, intersections, expressway tollgates
and lane divisions. Other areas of usage are at expressway interchanges,
dangerous medians, airport runways, walkway-roadway divisions, sharp
curve areas, dangerous roadsides, lane-change starting areas, parking
lots, construction zones and more.
Malaysia’s Import of Flexible Guide Post
Imports of the Polyurethane FGP are declared
under the HS Code 3926.90.990 (Other Articles of Plastics & Articles
of Materials of Heading no 39.01 to 39.14). The imports of FGP are
not specified under one separate HS Code and therefore, the total
import value of this product into Malaysia is not clear. The Malaysian
Customs Duties Order for this product is shown in the following table:
Malaysian Customs Duties Order
|
HS Code |
Unit Of Qty |
Import |
Sales Tax |
|
| 3926.90.990 |
kg |
30% |
10%** |
|
** Subject to 5% Sales Tax: 3926.90.990 –
Roofing tiles, other than rectangular (including squares)
Local Manufacturer
LBR Industries Sdn Bhd,
Lot 1282, Jalan Bukit Kemuning, Seksyen 32
40460 Shah Alam, Selangor.
Usage of Imported Flexible Guide Post in
Malaysia
By 2002, Projek Lebuhraya
Utara Selatan (PLUS) have already installed about 30,000 units of
FGP along the highway, particularly at its interchanges. PLUS highway
has 78 interchanges along its 848 km-stretch from Bukit Kayu Hitam,
Kedah to Johor Bahru. On average, one interchange requires about 385
units (30,000/78=385). The price for one unit of imported FGP is RM
210. The total value of FGP bought by PLUS at one particular time
is estimated at RM 6.3 million (RM 210 x 30,000 unit = RM 6,300,000).
Within Kuala Lumpur area, 10,000 units have
already been installed by DBKL. More guide posts are expected to be
installed in the Kuala Lumpur vicinity. Based on the LGM’s Market
Development and Promotion Unit’s market survey, a town like
Alor Setar would require approximately 10,000 units. Other prospective
users of FGP are highway concessionaires of Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong,
Second Link, KESAS Highway and Karak Highway.
Sales
& Marketing
The FGP used on
Malaysian road are imported from South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the
US. Most of the imported FGP are made from PU (polyurethane). Currently,
there are 4 importers/agents for this product. As for pricing, the
imported guide post costs an average RM 210 per piece, which includes
installation while cost of local NR guide post is only about 75% of
the imported ones. Aside from its cheaper price, the life span of
the NR guide post is also longer with the normal average replacement
between 6-12 months.
Prospects
The Malaysia Rubber Board (MRB) has identified
LBR Rubber Industries Bhd, a subsidiary of Rumpun Hijau Capital Bhd,
as a beneficiary for the technology transfer of FGP of NR-based. This
type of FGP could be manufactured at lower cost and have a longer
life span up to 12 months. Based on its price and durability, it is
expected that NR-based FGP would gradually replace those made from
PU. Moreover, FGP made in Malaysia has a potential for export particularly
in neighbouring Asean countries.
With
these advantages – in term of pricing, quality and durability,
it is only a matter of aggressive promotional activities that need
to be taken by producers to capture a bigger domestic share as well
as the export markets.
Testing
Test required for rubber compound.
- Tensile properties
Unaged
Aged: 3 days @ 100°C
- Hardness (IRHD)
Unaged
Aged: 3 days @ 100°C
- Ross Flex Cracking resistance to crack growth after 300,000
flexes
- Trouser Tear strength
- Ozone resistance
Ozone concentration 50 pphm, 20% strain, temperature 40°C
and time 96 hours
- Abrasion AIR %
- Rebound Resilience %
The above test are available at Physical Testing Laboratory of Malaysian
Rubber Board. |
